News, Writers & Booze

Hello, you hungover polar bear, you.

As usual, it's all go here at Tenacious Towers. I had an extremely lovely, whizzy, busy day yesterday which resulted in a clear, pristine vision for the up and coming music video, tied up most of the loose ends for the shoot next week and had lots of helpful and poignant discussions in relation to various future projects.

I topped off my productive and constructive day with the carnage that always is The Meeting of The Writers, where I was most pleased to see the gorgeous Helen Smith who I haven't chatted to for an absolute age (although we managed only, "Hi!" "How are you?", "When are we going to go out next?" and then "Bye") and also finally meet fellow blogger and Twitterer, Kevin Lehane. Being totally committed to my work/training schedule, I was most amused to observe the whole evening from a very alcohol-less water angle, which was fun, but unfortunately my secret is now out. Everyone knows I am as mentally unhinged sober, as I am drunk. *sigh*  I always liked to blame the gin, red wine or the alcoholic beverage du jour for my hyperactive stupidity and now I can't. *nuts*

Talking of unhinged, many writerly bods were trying to glean some information about "Project Mute" - most of which they know I can't divulge at the present time.  I have to point out, I'm not being precious about it: I am genuinely unable to disclose much info as funding and deals are relying on discretion. I can say it's a multi-platform, multi- layered project with both short, medium and long term angles, and I start shooting some footage next week.  It will stretch my boundaries, abilities, and to some degree, mental attitude, in the most intangible manner - but it's going to be totally blinding fun for those who choose to take part in the mission.

So before I disappear back into my burrow of paperwork and research again - a quick shout out.

Virgin Media Shorts scheme is up and running again for this year. I will be entering a little something into it, as will my delightful colleague and buddy, Potdoll.

Check out the website of the wonderfully talented and delightful DoP, Stephen Murphy.  I had the pleasure of meeting up with this lovely man to discuss projects and I am thrilled at the prospect of working with such a like-minded, enthusiastic artist in the not-too-distant future. Check him out, watch his showreel, hire him (but don't clash with my dates, thanks).

The jolly decent chap of scribes, Sir Paul of Campbellness, has not just his ep of "Eastenders" being tx'd next Tuesday (21st April) but then straight afterwards, his ruddy ep of "Holby" is on too. Now, please, just take a breath and bow to the man's sheer ability to place the correct bungs in the correct scheduling pockets. He is truly a legend amongst men. ;)

Best of Oirish to Sir Stack for his shoot next week and also the best of Engerlish to the Splendid chaps who are up at full tilt next week also! May the sun shine on your shoots - unless you need no sun, of course.

And finally...well done to Tony Jordan who selected the following people to join him for a workshop soon.  He'll be a lucky man sharing the room with Dave Turner, Jason Arnopp, David Bishop, William Gallagher amongst others, I tells ya.

Right. Lunch time over. Back to storyboards and locations. Ta-ra.

Onwards.

Project Doctor Smeg

Hello there, my little stack of feather dusters.

I am having quite a mad, mental time of it and an awful lot has tickled my fancy since my last post here, and various posts over at Tenaciously Training.

As I mentioned in my last post here, the new TT blog was set up to make sure I stuck to my training schedule which in itself vaguely forms part of a very exciting Project. Now, when I set up the new blog I did not expect, for one second, that the Project I was referring to would sprout wings and turn into a massive reality - and virtually overnight.

I really need to find a name for this Project though, as for various reasons, I can't and won't say too much about it at the moment. I can say I have loads of meetings concerning "it" over the next fortnight, have launched into full scale pre-production for the first phase of shooting (week after next), and can honestly state I have never had so many lists surrounding me in my life. Blimey. Gosh. Golly. Whizzo dizzo. In addition to all this "Project" madness, I am slipping in a few little meet-ettes to finalise the details for the music video I am directing in a few weeks' time too.

In amongst all the chaotic nuttiness that prevails in my life,  I have managed to catch up on my accounts (b-o-r-i-n-g-o) as well as the far less mundane, *spoilers* Doctor Who: "Planet of the Dead" and the Red Dwarf three parter, "Back to Earth", both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Okay, so strike me down dead for whatever reason you feel you should, but they both looked and felt like epic achievements: DW - shot on HD, locations in Dubai desert, strong casting, the menace of the possible return of The Master; RD - shot on Red camera, lots of amazing green screen/CG work, no laughter track, the wrath of the characters on their Creator(s).  

Yes, I know...the die-hards aren't happy and there were plot holes, wormholes and in DW's case, Michelle Ryan doing a Lara Croft/Tomb Raider manoeuvre down a bloody big hole, but you know what? I shall interject with a "Hurrah!" and then say "Hurrah!" again, for beautiful looking, beautiful sounding and beautifully crafted televisual entertainment. Now, surely there's enough room for some of that?

Okay. So now I'll shut up and let you boys and girls get on with discussing the intricacies of...well, whatever it is you get so excited about.

Ah, now there's a good name - "Project Mute". And what a fun dichotomy that is, too.

Have a luscious week, my lovelies. Until we natter again.

A Bit of This and That

Apparently there's no rest for the wicked - right? In that case, I am certainly no goddamn angel.

So far this week, I have been cracking the whip on the music video, a short film, a feature documentary and a feature adaptation - not much rest, like I say. Plus, there is a new addition to the Tenacious family - but more on that breathtaking news later.

Things have really started motoring on the music video with lots and lots of meetings set up for next week. I have been fine tuning my treatment and storyboards in order to have the strongest, most thorough vision possible, given the budget and time constraints. Bah humbug, Easter - you always arrive at a very busy time of year for me! Bugger you, your bank holidays and your creamy chocolatey-ness for causing a hiatus in my working life! Oh, but before moving on, I should say a big thanks to the very lovely director, Schuman Hoque, who answered my music vid sync plea in a most honorable and timely fashion - cheers mate!  And thanks once again, Lucy.

Next up, a location I have been after for a little while, kind of fell into my lap the other day, which was really rather lovely. It floated like a fluffy feather, ever so gentle, and bounced off my forehead with a tickle and dropped to my knee with a little kiss. Short film phase 1 issue now dealt with. Most fantastic news. Then there's the feature adaptation and the documentary...well, I am less inclined to chat about them as it's very early days at the moment for both, so more on these over the months to come, I'm sure.

And that leaves me with the other Tenacious blog family addition - Tenaciously Training - to be more specific. It's more of a ramble at great speed than a blog to be honest, but by merely having it up in cyber, it will ensure I stick to my training schedule - well, that's the thought process behind it anyway. This new blog will also eventually form an important part of a very exciting project I am working on. Again, very cloak and dagger, but if it comes off, you'll be the first to know. Honest. Well, after the Producers, anyway.

So, a quick shout out to a few other cyber peeps who are chipping away at the old block quite furiously at the moment - Sir Daniel of Stack is very nearly there on his very exciting short film "Origin".  Only a couple of weeks to go before he launches into production now - everything is crossed for you in this direction, mate!  

Also, a nod in the direction of those splendid chaps who have been working very hard pulling together the pilot for their new sketch show called...erm..."Splendid".  Apparently - or so I am led to believe - they have started infiltrating t'Interweb here, here, here and here with their silliness, but being a fan of Yoga, I couldn't possibly comment.  ;-)  Best of luck with the pilot, chaps! 

Phew. I'm off for a lie down after all that. Not.

*rushes back to top-up furiously intense typing and research habit*

Onwards.

A Question of Sync...

Hello there, my sunniest of sunny people.

A very quick question from Yours Truly...I have been asked to direct a music video, and very excited about it I am too.  :0)

Having never shot one with music sync (only live action with music track laid over), I was wondering if anyone out there knew the best and most dependable way to have live music playback for the actual shoot? That is, where the artist/band can sync to their vocals etc and then the complete studio track mix can be dropped in on the final edit? 

Errrr? Any takers on that one? If not, do you know anyone who may have a suggestion? I'm aware there are a multitude of ways to do it, but was wondering if any peeps out in the cyberscriboplace had a recommendation? All wealths of experience will be appreciated! 

Either leave a comment or send an email here.

Loving you already. Ta luvs. x